HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Wednesday, 17 May 2006
ANNAN DISCUSSED NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER
Secretary-General Kofi Annan met today in Tokyo with the Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi. In a press encounter following that meeting, he said they talked about UN reform, the North Korean nuclear programme and the issue of abductees, as well as the Korean-Japanese relationship.
He applauded the Prime Minister for his initiative to set up a prize to reward research into diseases in Africa, saying it will serve as an important incentive for scientists to work on diseases of the poor.
He was asked about Iran, and responded that he hopes that negotiations will resume and that “all parties will go to the table with an open mind”. Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General also met with Foreign Minister Taro Ase, and separately with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe.
He began the day with a meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, who is Chairman of the UN Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation. He also met with former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, who is currently President of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. Tomorrow he delivers a lecture at Tokyo University.
Asked why the Secretary-General was calling for dialogue at a time when Iran was reportedly rejecting the diplomatic proposals, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General’s message was to focus on the diplomatic initiatives and to lower the rhetoric, rather than focusing on some of what’s being said through the press. He added that the European nations are still finalizing their package to be presented to Iran.
Asked whether the Secretary-General still believes that direct talks between the United States and Iran are important, the Spokesman noted that the Secretary-General has said so repeatedly and has not changed his position.
Asked whether the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister had discussed the issue of possible Japanese permanent membership on the Security Council, the Spokesman said that, although the Secretary-General had said that they had discussed UN reform, he was not aware of such specific discussions.
Dujarric added that the makeup of an expanded Security Council would be up to Member States, although the Secretary-General has been clear that he sees the expansion of the Security Council as important to UN reform.
JAPAN PLEDGES $7.5 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY FUND
Japan today announced a pledge of $7.5 million for the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). That makes Japan one of the top ten donors to the Fund and brings the total number of contributing Member States to 41.
Total pledges and contributions now amount to more than $261 million. The UN’s goal is to have a total of $500 million in the Fund.
Asked about the response to the CERF, the Spokesman said it is getting better, and the number of contributions is increasing. He added that the CERF has already had an effect in dealing with humanitarian needs, noting that it has already provided funds to a number of emergencies.
SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON LEBANON
The Security Council, after brief consultations, voted to adopt a resolution in which it reiterated its call for the full implementation of resolution 1559, concerning Lebanon.
The resolution encouraged Syria to respond positively to Lebanon’s request to delineate their common border and urged both parties to make efforts through further bilateral dialogue to this end, while bearing in mind that the establishment of diplomatic relations between States takes place by mutual consent.
That resolution was adopted by 13 votes in favour and none against, with Russia and China abstaining.
ANNAN URGES ACTION TO PROTECT INTERNET TRANSACTIONS
Today is World Information Society Day, and the Secretary-General has issued a message, saying that, in an increasingly interconnected world, it has become critically important to safeguard our vital systems and infrastructures against attack by cybercriminals, while instilling confidence in online transactions.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General has also established an Advisory Group to assist him in convening the Internet Governance Forum. He was asked by the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Tunis last November, to convene such a Forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue.
The group includes 46 members from around the world, from government, the private sector and civil society. Its chair is Nitin Desai, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for the World Summit on the Information Society.
The Advisory Group will meet on 22 and 23 May in Geneva, following consultations on 19 May. Its main task is to prepare the agenda and programme for the first meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, which is to be held in Athens from 30 October to 2 November.
ONE OF ELEVEN DETAINED U.N. STAFF RELEASED IN ERITREA
The UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea says one of its Eritrean national staff members – who had been detained for more than a week – has been released.
The release leaves 10 national staff members still in detention in Eritrea – the authorities there have not provided any explanation to the detentions or today’s release.
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING TEST A ‘GREAT SUCCESS’
The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today reports that the first test of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System was a “great success.”
UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura congratulated the 30 countries that participated in the event yesterday and today.
He said that although a detailed analysis of the test is pending, the authorities in participating countries received the information bulletins from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Honolulu rapidly and were able to act accordingly.
UNITED NATIONS COOPERATING ON ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WORLD CUP
The UN Environment Programme and the organizers of next month’s World Cup today announced details of their plans to make the event the most environmentally friendly football tournament ever.
The plan, known as the "Green Goal" initiative, calls for offsetting all of the 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide expected to be generated by the presence of 3.2 million spectators in Germany through such measures as free passes on public mass transit, waterless toilets, reusable drinking cups and watering the playing fields from rain harvesting systems.
The plan also calls for films promoting environmental care to be shown before every match. Asked about the hygienic implications of waterless toilets, the Spokesman said that they are supposed to be hygienic and environmentally friendly.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNITED NATIONS IN ONGOING CONTACT ON DARFUR PLANS: Asked about progress towards sending a UN assessment team to Darfur, the Spokesman said that contacts are continuing at all levels. The United Nations, he said, wants to get a team in as quickly as possible and is ready to move. He noted that the Security Council on Tuesday made it clear that they wanted a team to go in within a week.
SUICIDE BOMBER ATTACK ON U.N. VEHICLES IN AFGHANISTAN: A suicide bomber crashed his van into a vehicle belonging to the United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan’s office in Kandahar, Afghanistan this morning. No UN staff were killed in the blast, but a UN driver suffered minor injuries. The UN armoured vehicle was painted metallic green and had no UN emblem on it. It did, however, have UN license plates. There is no information about why this vehicle was targeted for attack. The UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan coordinates the Government of Afghanistan’s Mine Action Programme.
Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
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